Overview
- The change, reported on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, lets Apple Card users reach Booking.com’s Genius Level 2 after a single eligible stay or car rental instead of the previous five bookings over 24 months.
- Genius Level 2 can include benefits such as 10–15% discounts on select stays and cars, free breakfast, and room upgrades when those perks apply to a given property or room.
- Bookings paid with Apple Card earn enhanced 3% Daily Cash and can also earn 2% in Booking.com travel credits if the Apple Card booking link is used in Safari at checkout.
- Practical coverage is limited because Level 2 perks apply only to selected rooms, hotels, or cars; spot-checks in major U.S. cities found roughly one in ten hotels showing Level 2 discounts.
- Booking.com’s Genius is its own loyalty program and not an Apple service, and users should review property eligibility and overlapping promotions such as Booking.com’s Affirm $200-off deal running through Aug. 10 before booking.